Oriole jelly birdfeeder

ABSTRACT

An oriole jelly birdfeeder is provided that includes a jelly holding container, a base having a feeding platform and a connecting element for connecting the base to the container, and a mixing mechanism. The mixing mechanism includes a mixer element and a mixer handle which are coupled to one another and rotatable together. The mixer element includes a paddle positioned within the connecting element to enable the user to mix and distribute the jelly, which is held within the container, onto the feeding platform as needed by rotating the mixer handle.

This application is a continuation application of co-pending U.S.application Ser. No. 13/785,417 filed Mar. 5, 2013, the priority ofwhich is hereby claimed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is related to the field of birdfeeders and, moreparticularly, to a birdfeeder for dispensing jelly as a bird feed.

2. Description of the Related Art

Current jelly feeders require the user to manually scoop jelly onto thefeeder platform of the feeder, with the jelly being stored in acontainer separate from the feeder. Whenever the user notes that thesupply of jelly in the feeder platform is low, the user must bring thejelly container to the feeder and manually scoop some additional jellyinto the feeding platform. This can be inconvenient if the jelly storagecontainer is misplaced, and also can be potentially messy as jelly maybe inadvertently spilled while the jelly is being scooped out and spreadonto the feeding platform of the feeder.

Accordingly, a need exists for a jelly feeder that is configured to bothstore the jelly and to enable the user to dispense the jelly incontrolled amounts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to an improved jellybirdfeeder including a jelly holding container, a base having a feedingplatform and a connecting element for connecting the base to thecontainer, and a mixing mechanism. The mixing mechanism includes a mixerelement and a mixer handle which are connected to one another andcoupled to the base to enable the user to mix and distribute the jelly,which is held within the container, onto the feeding platform as needed.

The mixer element includes a paddle that is positioned to be immersed inthe jelly and a downwardly extending hooked arm to connect the mixerelement to the mixer handle. The mixer handle has a connecting part witha keyed central aperture for receiving the hooked arm of the mixerelement, and two wings extending out from opposite sides of theconnecting part that are used by the user to rotate the mixer handle.When the user rotates the mixer handle, the mixer handle rotates themixer element paddle within the jelly to mix and force the jelly outthrough openings formed in the base connecting element and onto thefeeding platform.

In view of the foregoing, one object of the present invention is toovercome the difficulties of having to separately store jelly for ajelly feeder and then manually scoop some jelly from the storagecontainer onto the jelly feeder's feeding platform using a spoon orother implement when additional jelly is needed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a jelly birdfeederin accordance with the preceding object in which the jelly birdfeederincludes a jelly holding container that provides for storage of thejelly within the feeder itself.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a jellybirdfeeder in accordance with the preceding objects in which the jellybirdfeeder has a base with a feeding platform and a connecting elementfor connecting the base to an open end of the container in which thejelly is stored, the open end being oriented downwardly and coupled tothe connecting element when the feeder is in use.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a jellybirdfeeder in accordance with the preceding objects in which theconnecting element is an upwardly extending collar with a wall definingan interior space that receives jelly when the jelly-filled container ismounted to the base.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a jellybirdfeeder in accordance with the preceding objects in which the jellybirdfeeder has a mixing mechanism including a mixer element with apaddle and a downwardly extending hooked arm, and a mixer handleincluding a connecting part and two outwardly extending wings.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a jellybirdfeeder in accordance with the preceding objects in which the paddleis positioned at least partly in said interior space to mix the jellytherein and the downwardly extending hooked arm protrudes from the baseand is received within a keyed central aperture in the connecting partof the mixer handle to couple the mixer handle to the mixer element.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a jellybirdfeeder in accordance with the preceding objects in which the collarwall has at least one opening therein, the mixer handle when rotated bythe user also rotating the mixer element paddle within the jelly to mixand force the jelly out through the opening and onto the feedingplatform.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a jellybirdfeeder in accordance with the preceding objects that is not complexin structure and which can be manufactured at low cost but yetefficiently stores jelly and, when the user desires, also dispenses thestored jelly onto the feeding platform in a desired amount.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a jelly birdfeeder in accordance with the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the components of the jellybirdfeeder shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A is a side perspective view of the jelly container shown in FIGS.1 and 2.

FIG. 3B is a side view of the jelly container shown in FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4A is a side perspective view of the base of the feeder shown inFIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4B is a top view of the base shown in FIG. 4A.

FIG. 4C is a cut-away side view of the base taken along line A-A of FIG.4B.

FIG. 5A is a side perspective view of the mixer element of the feedershown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5B is a top view of the mixer element shown in FIG. 5A, showing thecurved shape of the paddle.

FIG. 5C is a side view of a first side of the mixer element shown inFIG. 5A, showing the hooked arm of the mixer element.

FIG. 5D is a side view of a second side of the mixer element shown inFIG. 5A, the second side being perpendicular to the first side which isshown in FIG. 5C.

FIG. 6A is a side perspective view of the mixer handle of the feeder asshown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6B is a top view of the mixer handle shown in FIG. 6A, illustratingthe keyed central aperture in the connecting part of the mixer handlefor receiving the hooked arm of the mixer element.

FIG. 6C is a view of a first side of the mixer handle shown in FIG. 6A,the first side having an aperture therein.

FIG. 6D is a cut-away side view of the mixer handle taken along line A-Aof FIG. 6C.

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of the base as shown in FIG. 2 with themixing element assembled therein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Although only one preferred embodiment of the invention is explained indetail, it is to be understood that the embodiment is given by way ofillustration only. It is not intended that the invention be limited inits scope to the details of construction and arrangement of componentsset forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings.Also, in describing the preferred embodiment and alternative structures,specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. It isto be understood that each specific term includes all technicalequivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similarpurpose.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention is directed to a jellybirdfeeder generally designated by reference numeral 10. The jellybirdfeeder 10 includes a jelly holding container generally designated byreference numeral 12, a base generally designated by reference numeral14 and a mixing mechanism generally designated by reference numeral 16.The feeder 10 is supported by chains 15 that allow the feeder to besuspended from a support element. The feeder 10 could also be supportedin other ways, such as on a post, as would be understood by persons ofordinary skill in the art.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the jelly holding container12 is a jar 20 having a closed end 22 and an open end 24 through whichthe jar is filled with jelly; when the jar is assembled with the feederthe closed end 22 is the top end and the open end 24 is the bottom end.The open end 24 has a neck 26 with outer threads 28. While a threadedopen end is shown, the open end 24 could have alternate connectingstructures such as a snap fit or other type of connecting mechanism aswould be understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art.

As shown in FIGS. 4A-4C, the base 14 includes a feeding platform 30 anda connecting element generally designated by reference numeral 32 forconnecting the base 14 to the open end 24 of the container 12 in whichthe jelly is stored. The base 14 may also include a perch rail 34 asshown. The feeding platform 30 is generally flat in the center and has abowl shaped outer edge 36 to better contain the jelly once it isdispensed onto the platform. An aperture 38 is formed in the center ofthe feeding platform to receive the mixing mechanism 16, as will bedescribed hereinafter.

In the embodiment shown, the connecting element 32 is an upwardlyextending collar 40 with a generally cylindrical wall 42 that defines aninterior space generally designated by reference numeral 44. The innersurface 46 of the wall 42 has threads 48 to threadedly engage with theouter threads 28 on the neck 26 of the container 12 when the containeris screwed into the collar 40. The shape and configuration of the collar40 and the threads 48 are sized to accept common commercial jelly jarslike those sold under the SMUCKERS® and GREAT VALUE® brands. The threadsof the feeder may be modified during manufacture to provide anotherthread pitch to fit other jars as would be understood by persons ofskill in the art. Further, as noted above in connection with thecontainer 12, the collar may have other connecting structures such as asnap fit or the like. When the container 12 is filled with jelly,connected to the collar 40, and inverted to the position shown in FIG.1, jelly flows downwardly into and fills the interior space 44 of thecollar.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the collar wall 42 includes at least one opening50, and preferably a plurality of openings. The openings 50 allow thejelly contained within the interior space 44 of the collar 40 to bedispensed onto the feeding platform 30 by the mixing mechanism 16.

The mixing mechanism 16 includes a mixer element generally designated byreference numeral 52 and a mixer handle generally designated byreference numeral 54. As shown in FIGS. 5A-5D, the mixer element 52 hasa paddle 56 with a curved upper or vertical profile as shown in FIG. 5B,and a downwardly extending hooked arm generally designated by referencenumeral 58. The curvature of the paddle 56 provides a simple andeffective paddle design for scooping and pushing the jelly. In theembodiment shown, the upper end of the paddle has an arched shape withdownwardly inclined edges 71, 73. The bottom edges 81, 83 of the paddleon either side of the hooked arm are also downwardly inclined, givingthe paddle an overall shape like that of a shovel. The shape andconfiguration of the paddle assists in moving jelly downwardly andoutwardly. Other paddle shapes could be used, however.

In addition, the mixing element could include two or more paddles (notshown). If two paddles are used, the second paddle is preferablyoriented generally perpendicular to the first paddle.

The hooked arm 58 includes a mounting post 60 with an upper componentgenerally designated by reference numeral 62 and a lower componentgenerally designated by reference numeral 64. The upper component 62 hasa disc shaped top member 66 coupled on top of a keyed shelf 68. Theshelf 68 extends generally perpendicular to the mounting post 60 on oneside thereof. The lower component 64 includes a hook 70. The hook 70preferably faces the side of the mounting post 60 opposite the mountingpost side having the keyed shelf 68. This opposing relationship is notnecessary, however.

As shown in FIGS. 6A-6D, the mixer handle 54 includes a centralconnecting part 72 and two outwardly extending wings 74. In theembodiment shown, the central connecting part 72 is generallycylindrical and includes a keyed central aperture 76 and an open slot 78near the base of the connecting part 72. The keyed central aperture 76extends axially through the connecting part 72 and receives the hookedarm 58 of the mixer element 52 to couple the mixer handle 54 to themixer element 52. The aperture 76 may be of a variety of shapes providedthe aperture is keyed to the shape of the hooked arm 58 so that themixer element 52 turns with the mixer handle 54.

In the embodiment shown, the keyed aperture 76 is generally square andincludes a recess 80. The slot 78 near the base of the connecting partmay have various shapes provided the slot 78 is configured to receiveand retain the hook 70 of the hooked arm 58. To connect the mixerelement with the mixer handle, the hook 70 is depressed to fit into theaperture 76. When the hook reaches the slot 78, the hook 70 relaxes intothe slot, thus locking the assembly of the mixer element 52 and themixer handle 54 in a fixed relationship with one another. The shelf 68,which is received in the recess 80, ensures that the two parts of themixing mechanism are properly assembled. The fixed relationship ensuresthat rotation of the mixer handle results in corresponding rotation ofthe mixer element. If the user wants to separate the mixer handle fromthe mixer element, the user can depress the hook back into the mixerhandle and pull the mixer handle and mixer element apart.

The wings 74 of the mixer handle enable the user to grasp and rotate themixer handle to turn the mixer element. In the embodiment shown, thewings are in opposing relationship, extending outwardly and generallyperpendicular to the central connecting part 72. The wings 74 do nothave to be in alignment with one another, as shown in FIG. 6B, but maybe offset while still being effective in use to rotate the mixer handle.

When the base and the mixing mechanism of the feeder are assembled foruse, the paddle 56 is positioned at least partly in the interior space44 of the collar 40 as shown in FIG. 7. The width of the paddle 56 isless than the inner diameter of the neck 26 of the container 12 that iscoupled to the collar to allow the paddle to be rotated therein.Preferably, the side edges 71, 73 of the paddle nearly contact the innerwall of the collar and container. As the user rotates the mixer element52 using the mixer handle 54 in the direction shown by arrow 80 thepaddle mixes the jelly, with the curvature of the paddle forcing thejelly out through the openings 50 in the wall 42 of the collar 40 andonto the feeding platform 30. The shape of the paddle is designed formaximum effectiveness when rotated counter-clockwise in direction 80.Because the container 12 is positioned above the base 14 with its openend 24 facing downwardly, gravity assists the mixing mechanism 16 inmoving the jelly out of the jar.

In use, the user fills the container with jelly and then couples thecontainer to the base, such as by the threaded engagement disclosedherein. When the feeder is inverted, jelly moves downwardly into theinterior space 44 defined by the collar where it is contained. Todispense the desired amount of jelly onto the feeding platform, the userrotates the mixer handle to turn the mixer element. In the embodimentshown, the mixer handle is preferably rotated counter-clockwise due tothe curvature of the paddle. The paddle forces the jelly out through thecollar openings and continues to do so until the user stops rotating themixer handle at which time jelly movement ceases. The paddle may also berotated clockwise, but, with the shape disclosed herein, is not aseffective in pushing the jelly out when rotated clockwise as compared tothe counter-clockwise direction 80.

While the embodiment disclosed herein utilizes a rotating mixingmechanism, the mixing and distribution of the jelly could be attainedthrough a non-rotary motion such as a pumping action or the like. Thepresent invention is intended to include all jelly birdfeeders withjelly storage containers and a mechanism that allows the user todistribute jelly easily at any time and in desired amounts.

The foregoing descriptions and drawings should be considered asillustrative only of the principles of the invention. The invention maybe configured in a variety of shapes and sizes and is not limited by thedimensions of the preferred embodiment. Numerous applications of thepresent invention will readily occur to those skilled in the art.Therefore, it is not desired to limit the invention to the specificexamples disclosed or the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed. Rather, all suitable modifications and equivalents may beresorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A jelly birdfeeder for storing and dispensingjelly comprising: a jelly holding container having an open end; a basehaving an upper surface including a feeding platform upon which jelly isdispensed and an outer lower surface opposite and generally parallelwith said upper surface, an interior space substantially enclosed by awall on said upper surface, said wall having an opening therein, and aconnecting part for connecting the base to the open end of the jellyholding container, jelly from said container filling said interior spacewhen said base and container are connected for use; and a mixingmechanism coupled to the base, said mixing mechanism including a paddleextending transversely across said interior space and a handle extendingoutwardly from said outer lower surface of said base, said paddle beingconnected to said handle by a generally vertically oriented armextending through an aperture in said base that passes from said uppersurface to said outer lower surface, a bottom end of said arm projectingoutwardly of said outer lower surface and being generally perpendicularthereto, said paddle operative to mix and dispense jelly from theinterior space in the base through the opening in the wall and onto saidupper surface of the feeding platform when the handle is manuallyactivated by the user, positioning of said handle beneath and outside ofthe base enabling the user to distribute jelly at any time and indesired amounts without contacting the jelly.
 2. The jelly birdfeeder asset forth in claim 1, wherein the container open end is threaded and theconnecting part of the base includes complementary threads so that thecontainer is threadedly engaged with the connecting part.
 3. The jellybirdfeeder as set forth in claim 2, wherein the handle is configured tobe connected to the arm in a fixed relationship so that rotation of thehandle also rotates the paddle.
 4. The jelly birdfeeder as set forth inclaim 3, wherein the wall forms an upwardly directed collar havingthreads on an inner wall of said collar to form said connecting part,said opening being in said collar.
 5. The jelly birdfeeder as set forthin claim 4, wherein the paddle is rotatably movable within the collar toforce jelly out through the collar opening when rotated.
 6. The jellybirdfeeder as set forth in claim 4, wherein a rotational axis of saidpaddle is aligned with a center axis of said collar.
 7. The jellybirdfeeder as set forth in claim 6, wherein said paddle has a centralpart attached to an upper end of said arm at said rotational axis andtwo jelly-pushing arms that extend radially outward from said rotationalaxis toward the collar wall.
 8. The jelly birdfeeder as set forth inclaim 1, wherein the paddle and the handle are releasably connected toone another.
 9. The jelly birdfeeder as set forth in claim 1, whereinthe feeding platform is generally flat with an upwardly directedbowl-shaped outer edge, the upper surface of said feeding platform beingopen to provide unobstructed access to jelly on the feeding platform.10. The jelly birdfeeder as set forth in claim 1, wherein the handle ispositioned under and in generally vertical alignment with the paddle.11. A jelly birdfeeder for storing and dispensing jelly comprising: ajelly holding container having an open end; a base having a feedingplatform and a connecting part for connecting the base to the open endof the container, said connecting part including an upwardly directedcollar defining an interior space on an upper side of said base andhaving at least one jelly dispensing opening in a side thereof, jellyfrom said container entering said interior space when said base andcontainer are connected for use; and manually operated mixing mechanismhaving an inner component and an outer component operative with thebase, said inner component configured to mix and dispense jelly from theinterior space and onto the feeding platform when activated by the userusing the outer component, said inner component including a pushingelement movably positioned within the interior space of the collar andconfigured to force jelly out through the collar opening, said outercomponent including a downwardly directed arm connected to the pushingelement at an upper end of said arm and having a lower end with a handleprojecting outwardly from a lower side of the base under the feedingplatform, said lower side being opposite said upper side with saidcollar, said outer component configured so that movement of said handlealso moves the pushing element to force jelly onto the feeding platform,said handle being positioned outside said base and adjacent said baselower side to enable the user to distribute jelly onto the feedingplatform at any time and in desired amounts without contacting thejelly.
 12. The jelly birdfeeder as set forth in claim 11, wherein thepushing element is rotatably movable within the collar to force jellyout through the collar opening when rotated.
 13. The jelly birdfeeder asset forth in claim 12, wherein a rotational axis of said pushing elementis aligned with a center axis of said collar.
 14. The jelly birdfeederas set forth in claim 13, wherein said pushing element has a centralpart attached to an upper end of said arm at said rotational axis andtwo jelly-pushing arms that extend radially outward from said rotationalaxis toward the collar wall.
 15. The jelly birdfeeder as set forth inclaim 11, wherein the outer component is positioned under and ingenerally vertical alignment with the inner component.
 16. A method ofdispensing jelly to a feeding platform of a jelly birdfeeder comprisingthe steps of: providing a jelly birdfeeder for storing and dispensingjelly, the birdfeeder including a jelly holding container having an openend, a base having a feeding platform and a connecting part forconnecting the base to the open end of the container, said connectingpart including an upwardly directed wall defining an interior space onan upper side of said base and having at least one jelly dispensingopening therein, jelly from said container entering said interior spacewhen said base and container are connected for use, and a manuallyoperated mixing mechanism having an inner component and an outercomponent operative with the base, said inner component including apaddle configured to mix and dispense jelly from the interior space andonto the feeding platform when activated by the user using the outercomponent, said outer component including a generally verticallyoriented arm having an upper end connected to said paddle and a lowerend with a handle projecting outwardly from a lower side of the baseunder the feeding platform, said lower side being opposite the upperside with the interior space, said paddle operative to mix and dispensejelly from the interior space in the base through the at least one jellydispensing opening in the wall and onto said upper surface of thefeeding platform when the handle is manually activated by the user;filling the container with jelly and then coupling the container to thebase to assemble the feeder; inverting the feeder so that jelly movesdownwardly into a lower part of the container having the open end andinto the interior space defined by the wall; dispensing some of thejelly onto the feeding platform by moving the outer component arm toconcurrently move the inner component paddle to force jelly out of theinterior space through the at least one jelly dispensing opening in thewall, positioning of the handle of said outer component arm under andoutside said base enabling the user to manually distribute jelly usingthe outer component without coming into contact with the jelly that ison the upper side of the base.
 17. The method as set forth in claim 16,wherein said inner component is coupled to said outer component in afixed relationship and said paddle is rotatably movable within theinterior space so that rotation of the outer component rotates the innercomponent at a same rate of rotation.
 18. The method as set forth inclaim 16, further comprising the step of, after dispensing the jelly,discontinuing movement of the outer component and the inner component,said container holding and storing undispensed jelly thereafter.